Drought Exposes 70 Ancient Dinosaur Tracks at Texas State Park
Around 70 dinosaur tracks have been revealed at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas, due to an ongoing drought. These footprints, dating back approximately 110 million years, had been concealed beneath water and mud in the Paluxy River that runs through the park. Experts have identified two different species of dinosaurs from the tracks found at the Ball Room site in the state park. The three-toed tracks are believed to belong to the giant carnivore, Acrocanthosaurus, while the elephant-looking footprints are attributed to the massive long-necked dinosaur, Sauroposeidon.
Acrocanthosaurus, with a length of about 40 feet, was one of the biggest predators in North America during the Early Cretaceous period, which spanned from 145 million to 101 million years ago. However, it was dwarfed by the long-necked Sauroposeidon, which stretched roughly 100 feet in length and weighed an astounding 110,000 pounds, according to the Natural History Museum in London.
The Lone Ranger Track, a specific portion of the exposed tracks, is believed to be one of the longest dinosaur tracks in the world, according to reports. The Friends of Dinosaur Valley State Park, a nonprofit organization supporting the park, first discovered the tracks on August 25 and stated that they were the most tracks we have ever seen at this location. The drought conditions over the past two years, characterized by high temperatures, provided the opportunity to uncover these new tracks. However, once the region receives a substantial amount of rain, most of the tracks will be covered again.
In order to document and preserve the significance of the tracks, members of the Dallas Paleontological Society plan to map and create casts for future research purposes. This will enable scientists and researchers to study the tracks and gain further insights into the behavior and habitat of these ancient creatures.
The unprecedented number of tracks exposed by the drought has generated excitement among paleontologists and visitors alike, as they provide a rare glimpse into the world of dinosaurs that once roamed Texas. The discovery not only adds to the wealth of knowledge about these creatures but also underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to protect and preserve this invaluable piece of natural history.
